Anne-Charlotte PasseraSince Christmas is just around the corner, now is the time to start creating some of your handmade gifts or buy them from local companies.
I’m not a believer in following trends on purpose as it always sounds so negative. However, the zero-waste, eco-friendly trend is a good one and is here to stay. Whether you buy your products locally or from another country, that is up to you.
The Pandemic has propelled the environment into the limelight. At least something good came out of it. By spending more time at home, we’ve taken the time to test out eco-friendly recipes that we had pinned to our Pinterest boards, saving them for “later”.
Later finally arrived and we’ve learned to make new food recipes, eco-friendly cleaning products and how to reduce our waste.
This Christmas, show off your new set of skills by making handmade gifts. However, it doesn’t have to stop at Christmas. These handmade gift ideas can also be applied for a birthday, a housewarming party, or when a new mom has just come home from the hospital after giving birth. There is always a reason to want to say thank you, even if it’s to yourself.
You’ve probably also jumped on the buy local wagon, in which case I’ve discovered some new companies that you’ll surely love.
Here are some Christmas gifts ideas that you might like that you either have to make yourself or buy from a local company. Some of them are actually available in our SHOP.
Whatever you decide, make this year’s Christmas theme an eco-friendly one. Remember: less is more!
Beauty care Christmas gifts
Believe it or not, simple handmade cosmetic gifts do exist and are perfect if you’re looking for a genuine way to say thank you. It’s a way to say: Hey! Treat yourself, you deserve it. The best part is that they won’t make you put on extra weight!
Below are two gift ideas for the hair and for the lips. If you’d like more Christmas gifts ideas about handmade cosmetics, read THIS ARTICLE.
Gifts for the hair
Shampoo and conditioner bars are perfect handmade Christmas gifts for travellers. Since they aren’t liquid, they can go in the carry-on bag on the plane.
A shampoo bar can replace up to 3 bottles of shampoo and take up less space in a suitcase.
Pair the shampoo with a conditioner bar to make the set complete.
One issue that you might run into when switching to shampoo bars is that they have a tendency to turn to mush if not stored properly. That happens when you let it sit in a puddle of water. Use a soap dish or container to dry your shampoo or conditioner bar after every use. Also, keep them away from sunlight.
We’ve found THIS container that has drainage holes and a lid to keep bars dry when not in use. They are also perfect to store your bars when traveling. Another great fact is that it is made with eco-friendly materials such as bamboo and corn-starch and is compostable.
Since this article is about handmade Christmas gifts, you could make your own bar holder. Simply take a jar lid and tie some elastic bands around your vessel. That’s it! Paint the lid if you want to make it more attractive.
Another solution is to use luffa. Simply cut a piece in half and put your shampoo and conditioner bars on top of it.
Where to buy the bars
Shampoo bars for different types of hair are available right HERE and even one for men exists.
If you want to take the shampoo in a bar gift idea to the next level, why not offer it as a DIY box set?
The DIY box contains all the material needed to make your own shampoo and conditioner bar and a recipe booklet. Also, since it’s already in a box, there is no need to wrap it.
You can order your box set right HERE.
Another option is to use the box for yourself to try it out and then make more on your own to give. You can buy all the necessary ingredients on-line at One Soak.
These lips are made for kissing
Make you own lip balm at home and put it in someone’s Christmas stocking.
Lip balm is really easy and quick to make. It’s the perfect gift if you live in a region where it gets cold, like Canada for example. However, you can still use it wherever you want as it does give a natural shine to your lips
DIY lip balm recipe
All you need is to make your own lip balm is:
- Beeswax pellets, 1 tsp
- Cocoa butter, 1 tsp
- Coconut butter, 1 tsp
Make a double boiler and melt all the ingredients together. Use a dropper to pour into an appropriate container.
Don’t fill it all the way to the top as it will expand as it cools. Let it cool for an hour and store in a cool place. That’s it!
Lip balm with a twist
Don’t you hate it when your favorite lipstick is all gone? Actually, more like you can see it at the bottom of the tube but you can’t access it. Isn’t it frustrating? Yes.
For an added twist, use lipstick to give your lip balm some color. Obviously, if you’re going to gift it to someone, don’t use your used lipstick for the colour.
Instead, you can use a Mica pigment or the tip of an unused lipstick to give a colorful tint to your lip balm.
You can give your lipstick a second life by removing the last bit of it that’s stuck at the bottom and mixing it with your lip balm when it’s still in a liquid state. It’s great! I personally used my own since it had run its course. A Christian Dior lip balm.
Use the smallest container you can find to store your lip balm. I used a miniature honey jar that I had saved up for “later”.
To apply the lip balm, I use one of my lip gloss sticks. You can also use your finger, but it doesn’t apply as well.
For comfort & style
Whether it’s because the change of season is getting to you, Mr. Covid is getting on your last nerves, or due to a death in a family; we all need comfort right now.
Gifting comfort to a loved one or even to yourself as a handmade gift is saying: I can’t physically hug you right now but here is some comfort for your soul that I handmade for you.
Cocktail time with Reese Witherspoon
Drink and gift the soothing Iced Tea recipe from Reese Witherspoon’s grandma. Reese likes to gift the Sun Tea in a mason jar to her girl-friends. I tell you about it in detail in my article about Tea.
Another option is to buy 3d cocktails by Poseidn and add separately a small bottle of alcohol to complement the gift. That way, the person receiving the gift can make the choice of spicing up the drink or not. This tip can also be applied to Reese’s Sun Tea drink.
Poseidn offers an interesting selection of pre-made mixes. It’s an original gift idea to say the least.
Use code: lesnackbar10 for a discount and shipping is FREE with a purchase of $70.
Tea time with a twist
Did you know that tea can be used in other ways to nurture yourself aside from just drinking it? That’s right, you can use it to give yourself a foot bath when you’ve been on your feet all day or to give an extra shine to your home or your hair.
There are tons of ways to reuse tea and you can read all about it HERE.
Offer some David’s Tea and on a card write down one way to use it to either clean your home or pamper yourself after having a cup of it. Also, when you order, make sure to get it with the tin so that you don’t have to wrap it or use a beeswax wrap to wrap it.
What’s great about the tin is that it can be repurposed afterward if you don’t want to use it for tea again. My husband uses a couple to put his screws in them. I use mine as a pencil holder. You can also use them when you travel to store some valuables and what not. Another option is to store your kitchen spices as some of these tins look great on open shelves.
In case you didn’t know, David’s Tea is a Canadian company.
Let there be light: Candles for a Hygge moment
Candles are always welcoming in a home. They provide a soothing and fragrant atmosphere inside a home.
I discovered this local company, Au Naturel, based near Hudson, while attending the vintage market there. It took me 2 years before driving to their store one rainy Saturday afternoon to finally purchase their candles and it was worth the drive.
They have all kinds of different fragrances and I particularly like the Eucalyptus Mint one. The candles can burn at least 35 hours.
They are made with soy wax, and the wicks are made of high tensile paper. Fortunately, you don’t have to drive up there to get them. You can order them online or in a store near you. If you live in Rosemont (Montreal), you can find them at Boutique Arloca on Saint-Hubert.
Always trim your wick before each use in order to prevent a wax hole from forming. Let it burn until the entire surface is melted and even.
Handmade candles
Candle making is not that hard to do, but before you start making them, here are some things you should know.
Organic palm wax is the most sustainable and versatile option out there just as long as it is made from palm oil that is sustainably sourced.
Look for the palmdoneright logo.
It’s a superior ingredient to other waxes as it:
- Mixes well with essential oils;
- Are cost-effective as they have a longer burn time;
- Releases fragrance evenly;
- Takes colour easily;
- Resists melting in hot weather;
- Is easy to de-mould; and
- Blends well with other waxes.
If you can’t find organic palm wax, soy wax or beeswax are the next best thing as its a natural and renewable source.
Making your own candles
I have yet to try myself to candle making. If you are up to the challenge, Coco Eco explains all the steps and ingredients you’ll need to make your candle making a success. Also, you can purchase all the necessary ingredients on their website.
Deconome whom I had a chance to interview for this article, not only made her own candle, but a decorative container as well. This is a unique gift idea that will fit nicely in a home.
It’s very important not to put more than 10% of essential oils or candle fragrance in the wax mixture.
Wax tip
To remove wax from your candle jars once the wick is done is really easy to do.
- Pour hot water in the candle jar.
The wax should dissolve and float to the top in about 30min.
- Once the wax has hardened, remove it.
- Add the leftover wax to another candle.
- Wash the jar and reuse it to make a new candle.
A period piece
Luckily, talking about our period is becoming less and less tabou. In my article about traveling on your period, I mentioned a local company that I had discovered: Ta Grand-Mère Approuve.
They have everything you can imagine relating to women’s period and only use local or Canadian suppliers. I personally always buy underwear for my boys and husband each Christmas. If I had a daughter, I would buy her period underwear, there is no shame in that.
Use code: CARLOTASWEB15, for a 15% discount on your purchase.
Earrings
Macramé has been trending in the last few months or at least has come back in style. Une Histoire de Noeud has put a little twist to the trend by making earrings.
You can purchase them HERE.
For the home
As long as they are useful or practical, why not find or make Christmas gifts for the home. It can be food, utensils, decorative yet useful objects, etc…
Among the list below, I have personally tested 3 of them.
Beeswax wraps
Beeswax wraps are perfect to use at home, in your lunchbox, while hiking, or at a picnic. They are an eco-friendlier version than saran wrap, easy to clean, and reusable. Buying them, although pricy, will still save you money in the long run.
Use a beeswax wrap as a wrapper for a small present such as a shampoo bar. That way, the wrap can be reused again and again in the kitchen. It’s like creating two presents in one.
However, if you want to test your hand-making skills, here is the recipe that I tried.
Homemade pasta
Homemade pasta is a great handmade gift to give to anyone who loves to eat. Who doesn’t like pasta, right?
I made my very own pasta this year and it took forever. However, the end result was DE-LI-CIO-SO! If it’s something you’d like to try, practice beforehand.
In order to keep your pasta fresh for days or even weeks, you’ll need to dry it completely. This generally takes 12 to 24 hours. You can speed up the process by aiming a fan toward the noodles. Once the pasta is completely dry, pack it in an air-tight container such a mason jar.
HERE is the recipe I used to make my very own homemade pasta.
Upcycling dishes
If you have white dishes that you no longer want or need and would like to gift them but are looking for a way to spruce them up a bit, use nail polish.
You don’t need to go out to buy nail polish. Instead, use ones you no longer use at home.
- Fill a bowl with warm water that you won’t mind ruining with nail polish.
Anything will do just as long as it’s wide enough for what you want to upcycle.
- Add a few drops of nail polish to the water in a swirl pattern. You can add as many different colours as you want. It’s your artistic choice. One colour on a white background can be simple yet elegant.
Do it quickly though, as nail polish hardens fast in water.
- Dip your plate, bowl, mug, etc. For added effect, dip them in different manners.
- Turn upside down and let it dry on a paper towel.
Warning: The finish products are not dishwasher or microwave safe.
Homemade Lamp
I stumbled onto the video below which shows you had to make a lamp. Although I have not tried it, I think it would be a nice project to try. Perhaps your kids brought home a load of seashells from your last trip to the beach. Wouldn’t it be a creative and useful way to showcase them?
Homemade basket for gift giving
A basket at home always comes in handy. Wether it’s to put your fruits or sliced bread in or drop your keys when you come home, there is always a way to put it to good use.
Below, you’ll find a tutorial video on how to make your own basket by L’An Vert du Décor.
We are cocoa for hot chocolate
Last year, chocolate bombs were the trend. It’s with no surprise then that this year Poseidn (yes, them again) have come up with their own version of.
It’s not a bomb but a teddy bear made from chocolate that you’ll have to add to your hot milk. Adults and kids alike will love to this and the box fits perfectly in the Christmas stockings.
Use code: lesnackbar10 for a discount and shipping is FREE with a purchase of $70.
Gifts for kids
Last but not least, we shouldn’t forget about the gifts for the kids at Christmas time.
Of course, books and toys are great and I give you ideas on how to go about Christmas gifts giving to kids right HERE. However, during the last few months, I discovered some handmade gifts that I thought to be pretty original.
Crayons
Did you know that you can make your own crayons from home?
I found this recipe while surfing the net. It kinda magically appeared to me. So I tested it out and I am so pleased with the result. Although it does take a while to make, you can easily make them on your own to give to a child, preferably at least 3 years old. Use a tiny yogurt jar from Riviera as a pencil holder or repurpose one David’s Tea tins.
If you really don’t want to be deal with the hassle of buying the raw materials and making them on your own, I’ve got you covered. You can now get them in my SHOP, handmade by yours truly.
These crayons come in different colors, but each set will be different from another. They are thick enough for little hands to use and can just go in the compost when they can’t be used anymore.
Jello Playdough
Playdough made with jello. Yes, you read that correctly. You can make playdough with jello. It’s easy and fun to make, but no, it’s not eatable.
Handmade playdough is an easy and inexpensive Christmas gift. Use glass yogurt jars from Riviera and order the lids online right HERE. They are the perfect size to store your homemade playdough in. You can fill about 4 jars of these with one playdough recipe.
Personally, I use my handmade playdough as a stress relief ball.
Oh, did you want the recipe? It’s right HERE.
Wooden toys
Wood is so much better than plastic, don’t you agree?
- Conifer Toys is a new company that offers children toys from unique style doll houses to rail road tracks made of wood. Visit them HERE.
- For the more adventurous type, perhaps a wooden balance board made from 100% recycled wood will interest you. These boards made by Mtlbboard are fun to be used by the whole family. Discover the Montreal based company HERE.
- A musical wooden puzzle made in Montreal. Moka Toutou Musical is not your typical company. The music you’ll hear whether it’s with the teddy bear or the puzzle is played by two of its founders.
All the sounds you hear are from REAL classical music instruments!
Shop Moka Toutou HERE.
- A wooden sensory table with various sensory kits by Tree Can Be.
Sensory tables are great for kids to develop their cognitive, motricity and language skills. They allow kids to explore and manipulate objects as they see fit. Don’t worry, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it will get messy.
Multiple options are offered at Tree Can Be which you can discover HERE.
Board Games
Playing board games brings people together. They are especially fun to do when the weather doesn’t allow you to go outside or up in a cabin. It allows us to connect, increases our brain function, teaches us to set goals and learn about patience.
- Clac Clac is a simple and versatile game. It can appeal to different age groups.
There are 36 discs that you spread out on the table. They combine 3 symbols reproduced in 3 different colours. At each turn, 2 dice are rolled to indicate which symbol to find and in which colour.
Then all the players try to get a maximum of discs reproducing this combination by stacking them. Don’t worry, they are magnetic, hence the name.
The winner is the one with the biggest stack at the end!
- Escape room family edition
Although the game is in French, but since I’m trying to keep it local, here is an escape room board game for children 10 years old and up by a Quebec company.
It’s perfect if you are looking for a family game that everyone can enjoy, where you’ll have to rack your brains together.
Visit Gladius today for more board game ideas. It’s the perfect winter activity.
For more ideas of useful toys and playsets, visit Coco Village which has become the talk of the town amongst new moms in Canada.
Whether you make your own handmade Christmas gifts or you buy them, make sure that they are eco-friendly this year. Not only it will reduce your foot-print on the environment and generate less waste; it can also reduce the amount of money you and your loved ones spend this year.
Finding Christmas gifts that can be used as part of an activity is priceless.
Happy Holidays!
[…] If you want ideas about Christmas Handmade gifts, you can read about it HERE. […]
[…] Shampoo and hair conditioner bars are the talk of the town these days. They don’t come cheap either. In any case, you’ll need a soap dish to preserve them. Instead of buying one, why not make your own? In fact, I mention it in my article on DIY present ideas. […]